5 Things to Look for When Buying a Vegan Protein

There are so many proteins lining store shelves and it can be hard to decide which one to buy! Single-source, multi-source, raw, sprouted, fermented… how can you possibly tell which to choose?

#1 Fermented! Fermented! Fermented!

A raw or unfermented protein may boast a high protein gram count – but raw and unfermented protein sources are hard to digest and absorb, and can lead to bloating… ugh. Fermentation is the BEST way to remove anti-nutrients (like phytic acid), enhance nutritional quality AND make amino acids from plant protein sources available to your body. Plus, the fermentation process creates entirely new nutrients that are nourishing to your gut tissue – raw and sprouted proteins don’t have these new nutrients. Look for a fully-fermented protein, like fermented vegan proteins+, which is up to 44% better absorbed, and won’t bloat you! Talk about getting more bang for your buck.

#2 Protein Sources

Is your protein 99% from one source? Maybe. Some vegan proteins rely heavily on one source of protein (i.e. rice or pea). Look for a protein that contains multiple sources of plant-based ingredients to offer a balanced spectrum of essential amino acids. fermented vegan proteins+is made with a blend of seven protein-packed plant-based ingredients: spirulina, alfalfa, mung bean sprouts, quinoa sprouts, pea protein, hemp and brown rice, for a well-rounded amino acid profile.

Are all the sources high in protein? Some proteins contain coconut, which tastes amazing, but isn’t a high-protein ingredient. Look at the label to make sure that ALL of the protein sources are actually high in protein!

#3 Sweetener

Some proteins are sweetened with erythritol, a type of wood alcohol that has been linked to GI upset, or inulin, a type of indigestible fibre that can lead to digestive upset, too! Look for a protein powder that uses natural sweeteners that don’t hurt your tummy AND provide health benefits, too.fermented vegan proteins+ is sweetened with a blend of stevia and monk fruit, which won’t cause GI upset or raise your blood sugar.

#4 Other Ingredients

Do you reach for digestive enzymes when you finish a big, heavy meal? Essentially, digestive enzymes help to make things that are hard to digest, well, digestible. Unfermented and raw proteins are harder to digest, so they’re bolstered with enzymes like protease (an enzyme that specifically breaks down proteins), phytase (an enzyme that breaks down phytic acid – an anti-nutrient contained in vegan protein sources) papain (from papaya) and/or bromelain (from pineapple) to increase their digestibility. Look for a fully fermented protein like fermented vegan proteins+. It doesn’t contain any enzymes because it’s easy to digest – no enzymes needed!

#5 What You Can’t See

There are a few things that you can’t see on a label, but they make a big difference. Like flavour. How does your protein taste? Does it mix well in water or almond milk? Is it smooth or gritty and chalky? At Genuine Health, we spend a lot of time taste testing our products to ensure that they mix well and taste great. And with four flavours, like vanilla, chocolate, coconut and unflavoured & unsweetened (stevia-free), there is a fermented vegan proteins+ for everyone.